Abstract: An electro-active lens has a first substrate with a surface relief diffractive topological profile and a second substrate positioned opposite to the first substrate having a substantially smooth topological profile. A first electrode is positioned along the surface relief diffractive topological profile of the first substrate and a second electrode is positioned between the first electrode and the second substrate. The smallest distance between the electrodes is less than or equal to about 1 micron An electro-active material is positioned between the first and second electrodes and a first insulating layer is positioned between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an electro-active lens and method for manufacturing the same that encapsulates liquid crystal using solid transparent optical material using an improved liquid crystal seal feature. The seal feature greatly reduces the visibility of the liquid crystal seal feature in an assembled electro-active lens. The seal feature is also structurally robust such that the electro-active lens can be processed to fit a spectacle frame without disturbing containment of the liquid crystal and without disrupting electrical connectivity to the lens used to alter the refractive index of the liquid crystal, thereby ensuring fabrication of a commercially viable electro-active lens.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide multifocal lenses having one or more multifocal inserts comprising one or more diffractive regions. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can provide a constant optical power or can provide a progression of optical power, or any combination thereof. A multifocal insert of the present invention can be fabricated from any type of material and can be inserted into any type of bulk lens material. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can be positioned to be in optical communication with one or more optical regions of a host lens to provide a combined desired optical power in one or more vision zones. Index matching layers of the present invention can be used to reduce reflection losses at interfaces of the host lens and multifocal insert.

Abstract: An alignment layer may align molecules of a liquid crystalline material to a surface of a substrate having a diffractive optical power region using a nonlinear alignment. The alignment layer may align the molecules of the liquid crystalline material in one of a tangential alignment, a piecewise tangential alignment, a perpendicular alignment, a piecewise perpendicular alignment, a continuous intra-zone alignment, or a piecewise continuous intra-zone alignment. The nonlinear alignment may result in optimal or near optimal alignment of the liquid crystalline material thereby resulting in improved optics and fewer vision compromises.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide multi-focal electro-active lenses having one or more multi-focal electro-active inserts. The electro-active inserts can provide multiple optical power regions each capable of providing a desired optical power. An electro-active power region of the insert is capable of providing a variable optical power upon application of an electrical signal such as a time-varying voltage waveform. Electro-active inserts can be fabricated from any type of material and can be inserted into any type of bulk lens material. The electro-active inserts can be thin and flexible and can function independently of other optical components of the overall electro-active lens. Consequently, the electro-active inserts can be fabricated according to a uniform design using uniform materials, independent of the supplementing portions of the final lens. Index matching layers of the present invention can be used to reduce reflection losses between bulk lens material and electro-active insert interfaces.

Abstract: A lens system is presented having a diffractive optical power region. The diffractive optical power region has a plurality of concentric surface relief diffractive structures. A greater portion of light incident on a diffractive structure near the center point contributes to the optical power than light incident on a diffractive structure peripherally spaced therefrom.

Abstract: An electro-active lens has a first substrate with a surface relief diffractive topological profile and a second substrate positioned opposite to the first substrate having a substantially smooth topological profile. A first electrode is positioned along the surface relief diffractive topological profile of the first substrate, and a second electrode is positioned between the first electrode and second substrates. An electro-active material is positioned between the first and second electrodes. The surface relief diffractive topological profile of the first substrate has been modified to eliminate nearly vertical side walls and/or sharp, nearly discontinuous changes in the surface profile, to instead be characterized by sloped side walls and smooth changes in the surface profile, i.e., rounded corners.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cholesteric liquid crystalline material which may be usable in an electro-active element for providing fail safe operation, polarization insensitivity, low electrical power consumption requirements, and a small number of electrical connections. The cholesteric liquid crystalline material may be usable in an electro-active element for providing a diffractive efficiency or focusing efficiency above 90% in an activated state of the electro-active element and a diffractive efficiency or focusing efficiency below 10% in a deactivated state of the electro-active element.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a wound contacting material incorporating a therapeutically effective amount of a particulate, water insoluble, inorganic silver salt containing at least 50% by weight (based on the weight of the salt) of silver for delivering silver to a wound. The preferred water-soluble, inorganic silver salt is sodium carbonate. The wound contacting material may comprise an alginate.

Abstract: An inhaler (1) is disclosed. It comprises a housing (2) to receive a strip (6) of blisters (6a) each having a puncturable lid (6c) and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and, an actuator (3) operable to sequentially move each blister into alignment with a blister piercing member (7, 9). The actuator is also operable to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of a blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it but of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.

Abstract: An Inhaler for delivering an aerosolised dose of a powdered drug for inhalation by a user is disclosed. The inhaler comprises a drug entreinment device vice to a receive a package having a piercable lid containing a dose to be delivered, the device including a drug outlet tube terminating with a primary piercing element to pierce an opening in said lid when a package is located in the inhaler, a secondary piercing member to pierce a plurality of peripheral openings in said lid and, an airflow path to enable the supply of a charge of gas into the package via said peripheral openings to scour the interior of a pierced package such that all or substantially all of the dose is entrained in the gas and flows out of the package via the drug outlet tube. A medicament pack is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-layer laminate media is provided on which information may be applied in machine or human readable form on a visible front surface by the output of one or more lasers, or other high intensity light source. In a preferred embodiment, the media has three layers including a substrate, a thermochromic layer and a light absorbent layer located intermediate the media substrate and the thermochromic layer. The light absorbent layer is adapted to absorb light from the light source and convert the absorbed light into heat. The heat is immediately conducted into selected portions of the thermochromic layer which is in thermal contact with the light absorbent layer, causing portions of the thermochromic layer to change visual appearance such as color to create the desired mark. The media optimally includes obscuration materials to reduce the visibility of the light absorbent layer to the naked eye. The light absorbent layer is preferably a low cost absorber such as carbon black.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention are directed towards setting a photonic device into a groove of a substrate, which is then attached to the chip sub-assembly in a way that the resulting optoelectronic package has a low profile and the interconnects between the photonic device and the semiconductor chip are short. The technique involves partially etching a groove in a substrate to allow for positioning of a photonic device within the groove. The photonic device is connected to the chip sub-assembly through interconnects that extend through the thickness of the substrate. The photonic devices are placed on their sides so that the active facets are perpendicular to the main axis of the chip sub-assembly. In this configuration, the optical fibers can be positioned parallel to the CSA top surface, ensuring a low module profile in the process.

Abstract: A locating system is disclosed, which can be used for locating a child. The system comprises a child locating device (parent unit) and a further device (child unit) carried or worn by the child. The child unit transmits an electromagnetic signal towards the parent unit, and the parent unit receives the electromagnetic signal, using at least three spaced antennas which are switched in such a way as to obtain a Dopplescant effect. The received signal is processed and the direction of the child unit with respect to the parent unit is displayed on a display on the parent unit. Distance measurement is also possible. The system can be used with several child units.

Abstract: Concepts for conveniently arranging devices for the transduction of signals to and from voltage and current domains to infrared radiation domains is described. Specifically, optoelectronic components and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, the optoelectronic component includes a base substrate having a pair of angled (or substantially perpendicular) faces with electrical traces extending therebetween. A semiconductor chip assembly is mounted on the first face of the base substrate and a photonic device is mounted on the second face. Both the semiconductor chip assembly and the photonic device are electrically connected to traces on the base substrate. The semiconductor chip assembly is generally arranged to be electrically connected to external devices. The photonic devices are generally arranged to optically communicate with one or more optical fibers. The described structure may be used with a wide variety of photonic devices.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention are directed towards setting a photonic device into a groove of a substrate, which is then attached to the chip sub-assembly in a way that the resulting optoelectronic package has a low profile and the interconnects between the photonic device and the semiconductor chip are short. The technique involves partially etching a groove in a substrate to allow for positioning of a photonic device within the groove. The photonic device is connected to the chip sub-assembly through interconnects that extend through the thickness of the substrate. The photonic devices are placed on their sides so that the active facets are perpendicular to the main axis of the chip sub-assembly. In this configuration, the optical fibers can be positioned parallel to the CSA top surface, ensuring a low module profile in the process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a two-wire (series connectable) delay-on-release timer apparatus for air conditioner compressor motors or the like which is connectable in series in one side of the alternating current circuit with a low voltage alternating current source, a thermostat switch with a shunt resistor acting as an anticipator heater and a relay, or other control, for applying power from the power main to an air conditioner compressor or the like. The timer includes a full-wave rectifier circuit with output connected to an adjustable time delay digital timer and also connected to a gated thyristor whereby turning the thyristor on greatly reduces electrical impedance between the input terminals of the rectifier circuit. A digital timer IC is provided with circuit elements for sensing the difference between thermostat switch closed and thermostat switch open conditions.